Ragebound will be welcoming and accessible to all types of players

The game kicks off with a straightforward tutorial, teaching you essential moves: wall climbing, dodging, attacking, and utilizing special abilities to dispatch tougher foes or environmental obstacles. After the tutorial, you step into the shoes of Kenji Mozu, a young Hayabusa clan ninja tasked with defending his village in Ryu Hayabusa’s absence. This narrative unfolds as you progress, eventually leading to an encounter with Kumori, a skilled kunoichi of the Black Spider Clan, who also becomes a playable character.

The demo excels at showcasing the game’s intense, yet fair difficulty, even showing the unlockable harder mode, and it teases the diverse bosses and enemies that await in each level. The fast-paced gameplay here is no joke; your primary goal isn’t to eliminate every enemy, but to reach the end, offering a significant nostalgic experience for fans.

Kenji specializes in close-quarters melee combat, while Kumori excels at ranged attacks and can briefly shift into the spiritual realm for unique platforming challenges. The game skillfully blends both combat styles. Each enemy can power up two special, high-damage abilities, marked by a specific color, indicating which attack you need to use to defeat them and unlock that ability for yourself.

Interestingly, once you meet Kumori, you gain the ability to traverse the demon world. Here, you’ll solve puzzles, clear platforming challenges, and find ways to free Ryu and open paths for him. Another excellent addition is the Ninja Fusion mechanic. This allows you to combine character abilities for attacks that can clear multiple enemies, though its use is limited to prevent overuse.

Great chance to try it out before the game launches this summer

Precise platforming is a core component, with sections demanding quick reflexes and careful timing as you’re being jumped by multiple enemies, especially during Kumori’s timed sequences that reset upon failure. The game’s vertical level design adds significant depth, featuring hidden areas packed with collectibles. Overall, this was a truly fun experience; it’s not overly punishing, at least initially, and I’m highly anticipating the hidden shop feature that wasn’t available in demo.

Let’s not overlook the demo’s great visuals, which expertly blend retro pixel art with modern detail. Environments like haunted temples and fiery battlegrounds are richly designed, featuring smooth animations and grotesque enemy designs clearly inspired by The Game Kitchen’s Blasphemous. The music is equally impressive, led by Blasphemous composer Sergio de Prado, and brilliantly complemented by contributions from original NES NINJA GAIDEN composers Keiji Yamagishi, Ryuichi Niita, and Kaori Nakabai.

NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound will release on July 31, 2025, and it will launch across PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. This demo is in fact part of a larger franchise resurgence, with NINJA GAIDEN 4 also set to arrive in October 2025, which is being developed by PlatinumGames.

The post [PREVIEW] NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is The Game Kitchen’s landmark title first appeared on IndieGames.

In Sick Samurai, players will experience blindingly fast combat, relying on precision, speed, and quick reflexes. The core gameplay revolves around a dash-and-slash attack mechanic where one wrong move can lead to instant death. You must master each level by carefully planning your attacks and restarting instantly after failure. The game challenges you to perfect your strategies, making every encounter a test of skill.

It stands out with its hand-drawn retro anime-style art, bringing the nostalgic vibe of classic anime to life. Combined with an original lofi hip-hop and jazz soundtrack, Sick Samurai immerses you in a world that fuses Edo period Japan with urban American culture from the 20th century, set on the fictional island of Furikyu.

Sick Samurai is expected to be released on PC via Steam in Q3 or Q4 2025.

The post Solideo Announces Sick Samurai: A Fast-Paced, Bloody Action Game first appeared on IndieGames.

Demon Crush puts you in a story where the warlord Neuzmo and his army attack a small isolated village with the intention of conquering not only the land, but also time. As Kenzo and his army, you have to fight against an overwhelming enemy, but soon another threat appears - the demonic Mathonas. All of this takes place due to a power source buried beneath the village, and players must ensure that Kenzo reaches it before monsters or various other enemies do.

The main features that await you in the game:

Adrenaline-fueled fun: The modern design of the game is focused on action, without dialogue or superfluous words during gameplay, which allows for a continuous experience of battles.
Action of tactical martial arts: The controls are simple, but allow for deep tactical combat. Each move can be executed with a single button and direction, and the game rewards tactical choices and player reactivity.
Speedrunners are welcome: The game appeals to different types of players, including action fans, platformers, and speedrunners. Players can enjoy a variety of gameplay modes, including fast-paced racing challenges and leaderboard competitions.

Demon Crush still doesn't have a specific release date, but you can wishlist it today on Steam.

The post The Kickstarter campaign for Demon Crush, a side-scrolling action game with ninjas, is starting soon first appeared on IndieGames.